By Paul Daugherty
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Ten years ago, they were our favorite cheap date. The Cincinnati Cyclones were better than a movie. They were real flesh and literal blood. Their best player was a dude named Lawless. Paul Law-w-w-less. What a great name for a hockey player.

College kids saw them for $3; families of four could go for $40, food and drink included. On game nights, we called the Cincinnati Gardens "the biggest sports bar in town." In their second season, the Cyclones averaged 9,700 fans per game, for low minor-league hockey. It was astounding.

We didn't know hockey. But we knew a good time. The Cyclones would "blo-o-o-w you away" in the words of their radio man and tireless promoter, Terry Ficorelli. After so many failed hockey teams, the 'Clones were built to last. The puck finally stopped here.

Which is why it was so sad Wednesday night, far from the Gardens, down by the river, in the place I used to call Riverfront Mausoleum. The Coliseum/Firstar Center/U.S. Bank Arena was rehabbed several years ago, but people still hate it. The Cyclones were playing and the place was so hushed, you could hear a hope drop. The team announced a crowd of 1,769, accurate if they were counting teeth. Real attendance was closer to 750. The old Cyclones drew 750 to the souvenir stand.

Like many pro teams, the Cyclones count tickets sold, not seats occupied. Regardless, what has happened to one of Cincinnati's best success stories is enough to make a toothless defenseman cry.

"I was there from the ground floor. A lot of my blood and sweat went in to helping build that," said Don Helbig, who worked in the Cyclones' front office in the team's first six years. Ironically, Helbig now works for the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks, the city's other hockey team. "It's still a part of me, and it's sad to see."

During the 1991-92 season, the Cyclones had 26 sellouts out of 32 home games. One of Helbig's jobs that year was to keep the local media current on the number of tickets available. On game days, he did it hourly.

"You felt like you were missing something if you weren't there," Helbig said. "We had the buzz."

The Cyclones' slide from buzz to z-z-z-z has taken several years. Over time, they've betrayed their identity, misread their fan base, changed affiliations and leagues like lines, and moved from the homey, lovable Gardens to the hated Mausoleum. Management assumed we'd pay more to see better hockey, so the Cyclones went from the East Coast Hockey League to the International Hockey League. But the product was secondary to the experience. We didn't go expecting to see the next Messier or Gretzky. We went to have fun.

The IHL folded last year. High salaries and exorbitant travel costs killed it. The Cyclones are back in the ECHL, but their top ticket still costs more - $17 to $15 - than the best the Ducks offer, and the Ducks play in a better league. Throw in $6 to park (Ducks parking at the Gardens is free), and it's easy to see why the 'Clones are in a mess.

They're trying, though. "The key is to build relationships, have our players in the community," said Pat Pylypuik, the team's rookie president and chief operating officer. "It's going to take time." Pylypuik is counting on the arena's "parking, safety and accessibility" to draw fans. Well, OK.

Pylypuik wants to bring back the hockey fans who quit the 'Clones. He wants to recruit young fans. He wants to put the high-tech arena scoreboard to good use. He wants to finish this season averaging 4,000 tickets sold per game. The Ducks average 500 more than that.

Pat Pylypuik wants to do all that, and good luck to him. We remember the Cyclones of 10 years past. They made a glad noise on the ice and asked us all to join in. The current 'Clones sound like a puck in midair.

E-mail pdaugherty@enquirer.com